r of disheartening others (since 'tis no advantage to
foreknow a misfortune that cannot be avoided), and for fear of being
pitied, which of all things I hate. Lest you should be of the same
humour I will not pity you, lame as you are; and to speak truth, if you
did like it, you should not have it, for you do not deserve it. Would
any one in the world, but you, make such haste for a new cold before the
old had left him; in a year, too, when mere colds kill as many as a
plague used to do? Well, seriously, either resolve to have more care of
yourself, or I renounce my friendship; and as a certain king (that my
learned knight is very well acquainted with), who, seeing one of his
confederates in so happy a condition as it was not likely to last, sent
his ambassador presently to break off the league betwixt them, lest he
should be obliged to mourn the change of his fortune if he continued his
friend; so I, with a great deal more reason, do declare that I will no
longer be a friend to one that's none to himself, nor apprehend the loss
of what you hazard every day at tennis. They had served you well enough
if they had crammed a dozen ounces of that medicine down your throat to
have made you remember a quinzy.

But I have done, and am now at leisure to tell you that it is that
daughter of my Lord of Holland (who makes, as you say, so many sore eyes
with looking on her) that is here; and if I know her at all, or have any
judgment, her beauty is the least of her excellences. And now I speak of
her, she has given me the occasion to make a request to you; it will
come very seasonably after my chiding, and I have great reason to expect
you should be in the humour of doing anything for me. She says that
seals are much in fashion, and by showing me some that she has, has set
me a-longing for some too; such as are oldest and oddest are most
prized, and if you know anybody that is lately come out of Italy, 'tis
ten to one but they have a store, for they are very common there. I do
remember you once sealed a letter to me with as fine a one as I have
seen. It was a Neptune, I think, riding upon a dolphin; but I'm afraid
it was not yours, for I saw it no more. My old Roman head is a present
for a prince. If such things come in your way, pray remember me. I am
sorry my new carrier makes you rise so early, 'tis not good for your
cold; how might we do that you might lie a-bed and yet I have your
letter? You must use to write before he comes, I